Locomotive crane



Nov. 19, 1957 M. PRESTON 2,813,636

LOCOMOTIVE CRANE Filed April 5, 1956 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N Q5 l l 5 Qw 1 k w n 2. INVENTOR.

MART/N Pass ran! Nov. 19, 1957 M. PRESTON LOCOMOTIVE CRANE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1956 mmvron. MA/Pn/v PRESTON Arromvs .5

FIG. 4

Nov. 19, 1957 M. PRESTON 2,313,536

LOCOMOTIVE CRANE Filed April 5, 1 56 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR. MART/N PRESTUN Arron/vans United States Patent LOCOMOTIVE CRANE Martin Preston, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Wellman Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, in corporation of Ohio This invention relates to material handling apparatus and more particularly to a traveling crane, especially a locomotive crane.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the pro vision of a novel and improved traveling crane and more particularly a locomotive crane comprising simple inexpensive and reliable means for selectively raising and low ering the effective connection of the boom hoist tackle with the cab to increase the mechanical advantage of the boom hoist tackle during operation while maintaining the over-all minimum height of the crane low during travel from one location to another, thereby permitting the crane to readily pass under low overpasses, etc.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a locomotive crane embodying the invention, with parts shown in different operating positions by dot-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. l with paths broken away and others shown in different operating positions by dot-dash lines;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 showing some of the parts in a different position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the upper end of the bail shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings the locomotive crane shown therein is of commercial construction except for the boom hoist tackle and the manner in which it is connected to the frame or cab of the crane. The crane, therefore, will not be described in detail suflice it to say that it comprises the usual railway flat car type chassis or car body designated generally by the reference character A upon which the load handling mechanism proper is rotatably supported and moved from place to place.

The load handling mechanism includes a prime mover, load and boom winches, etc., located on the floor or machinery deck of the machinery house B for taking up and playing out the boom and load lines 10 and 11, respectively, under the control of an operator in an operator's cab at the forward end of the machinery house B and to one side of the boom 12. The boom line 10 forms part of the boom hoist tackle designated generally as C which supports the front or free end of the boom 12. The other end of the boom is pivotally connected to the deck or platform of the machinery house B adjacent to its front end by a suitable pivot 13. The load line 11 carries the load hook or grab 14.

Patented Nov. 19, 1957 In addition to the boom line 10 the boom hoist tackle comprises a boom sheave block 15 including a plurality of sheaves 16 rotatably supported on a spindle or shaft 17 carried by a bracket 18 pivotally connected to the rear or cab end of a plurality of links or tie bars 20, the forward ends of which are pivotally connected to the free or swinging end of the boom by one or more short brackets or links 21. In the embodiment shown, two boom line reels are employed and the boom line 10 passes from one drum around one of the sheaves 16, then around one of a pair of sheaves 25, 26 (see Fig. 5) forming a part of the gantry or cab block 27 of the boom hoist tackle C. From the sheave of the cab block 27 the line 10 passes about the equalizing sheave 28 of the boom block 15. From the equalizing sheave 28 the line 10 passes about the other sheave of the cab block 17 then around the other of the sheaves of the boom block 15 and on to the other of the winding drums.

The sheaves 25, 26 are rotatably supported on a spindle or shaft 31 forming a part of the upper end of a built up bail structure or tension member designated generally as D, the rear end of which is pivotally connected to the machinery house adjacent to the end thereof remote from the end to which the boom is connected, by a transverse shaft 32 forming a part of the bail and having its opposite ends projecting into suitable apertures in parts 33, 34 of the machinery house frame projecting above the roof. With the construction described the effective connection of the boom hoist tackle C with the machinery house B is made at the rear end of the roof of the machinery house B which location is only a short distance above the boom pivot 13. This construction provides a minimum overall height for moving the crane from one location to another but the angle between the boom 12 and the boom hoist tackle C is too small for satisfactory operation of the boom throughout its entire range.

According to the provision of the present invention, the angle between the boom and the boom hoist tackle is increased during operation of the crane by raising the cab block 27 to a position well above the roof of the machinery house B. In the embodiment shown this is accomplished by reeling in the boom hoist line 10 to raise the boom until the boom is almost vertical, that is, until the bail D occupies the position or approximately the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2. When the bail D is in this position a pivoted rest or gantry designated generally as E is raised from the position shown in dotdash lines in Figs. 1 and 2 or in full lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown in full line in Figs. 1 and 2, where it limits the downward movement of the free end of the bail D and in turn the cab block 27 as the boom 12 is lowered. It will be apparent that thereafter the effective connection between the machinery house B and the boom hoist tackle C will be at the apex formed by the bail D and the brace or gantry E, a considerable distance above the top or roof of the machinery house B.

The brace or gantry E, shown is of built up construction and comprises a pair of saddle blocks 40, 41 at its upper end adapted to receive sleeve members 42, 43 detachably fixed to opposite ends of the shaft or spindle 31 of the cab block 27 which members assist in retaining the sheaves 25, 26 assembled on the shaft 31. The lower end of the gantry E is pivotally connected by pivot pins 44 to a pair of projections 45, 46 on a bracket member 47 located below the roof of the machinery house B adjacent to its front end and fixed to a part of the machine house frame 48 within the machinery house. The bracket projections 45, 46 which extend above the roof of the machinery house also provide or are formed with saddle blocks 50, 51 for receiving the ends of the shaft 31 when the bail D is in its lower or traveling position drown in full lines in Fig. 3. Suitable rests 52, 53 (see Fig. 4) are provided for receiving and supporting the rear end of the brace or gantry B when it is in its collapsed or lower position, that is, the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

The brace or gantry E may be raised or lowered in any suitable manner. As shown, it is adapted to be moved from its lower or collapsed position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and in dot-dash lines in Figs. 1 and 2 by a single acting fluid pressure motor 60, the cylinder of which is pivotally connected by a bracket 61 to the underside of the bracket 47 previously referred to and which bracket extends transversely across the machinery housing adjacent to its front end. The piston rod 62 of the motor 60 is pivotally connected by a pin 63 to an arcuate shaped arm 64 projecting through the roof of the cab and welded to a transverse member 65 forming a part of the build-up brace or gantry E. Flow of fluid pressure to and from the fluid pressure actuated motor 60 is controlled by a suitable manually operated valve located in the cab of the machinery housing B. The construction is such that the operator may raise or lower the brace or gantry E by admitting fluid under pressure to the motor 60 or allowing the fluid therein to exhaust by proper manipulation of the control valve.

Provision is preferably made for mechanically maintaining the brace or gantry E in its raised position irrespective of the application of fluid pressure to the motor 60 and in the embodiment shown a second lever 66 similar to the lever 64 is provided. As shown the upper end of the lever 66 is pivoted to the member 65 and its lower end is provided with an adjustable link or red 67 having a reduced lower end adapted to be detachably pinned as by a pin 68 in a suitable aperture in a bracket 69 bolted to the machinery frame within the cab. When it is desired to lower the brace or gantry E the pin 68 is removed and the boom raised to lift the cab block 27 clear of the brace or mast E. The brace or gantry can then be lowered by exhausting fluid pressure from the hydraulic motor 61 and the boom lowered as desired.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the objects of the invention heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a locomotive crane having a minimum overall height to facilitate travel thereof from one place to another but which includes means by which the effective connection of the boom hoist tackle can be raised during operation. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and it is the intention here to cover all adaptations, modifications and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

I. In a crane, a frame, a boom pivotally mounted upon said frame adjacent to one end thereof, means, including a boom hoist tackle for raising and lowering said boom, said tackle comprising a block, a link member having one end connected to said block and the other end pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent to the end of said frame opposite to said boom, a strut pivotally mounted on said frame forwardly of the pivotal connection of said link member with said frame and selectively movable into and out of a position to engage said link member and restrain its movement in a downwardly direction, and power actuated means for moving said strut.

2. In a crane, a frame, a boom pivotally mounted upon said frame adjacent to one end thereof, means including a boom hoist tackle for raising and lowering said boom, said tackle comprising a block, a link member having one end connected to said block and the other end pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent to the end of said frame opposite to said boom, a strut pivotally mounted on said frame forwardly of the pivotal connection of said link member with said frame and selectively movable into and out of a position to engage said link member and restrain its movement in a downwardly direction, power actuated means for moving said strut, and means for fixedly securing said strut in position to be engaged by said link member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,186,372 Elgh Ian. 9, 1940 2,738,884 Callouette et al Mar. 20, 1956 

